FEBRUARY 2026

 

Basketball Free Throw   Bishop’s Burse   C&B Books   Calendar   Coats for Kids   Color Corps   Columbiettes   Day of Caring   Essay Contest   Fourth Degree   Keep Christ in Christmas   Lottery Calendar   Pro‑Life   RSVP   Scholarships   Soccer Challenge   Veterans   Vocations   Wheelchairs

 

Fish Fry Dinners

Fridays in Lent

Medina Council #651

Medina, NY

 

 

Pancake Breakfast

February 22, 2026

Wyoming Council #2240

Attica, NY

Fish Fry Fundraiser

Fridays

Feb 27; Mar 6, 13, 20

Wyoming Council #2240

Attica, NY

Saturday

March 21, 2026

Catholic Men’s Fellowship of WNY

Men’s Conference

 

Chaplain’s Report.  NYS Council has a Catholic School/Religious Education Program Support and Matching Funds Program. The form is available on the NYS Council website under Programs. NYS Council will match a Council donation supporting a Catholic High School or Elementary School or Religious Education Program in a Parish. All the details are on the attached form. If a Council has any questions, please have them contact me.  See RSVP below for information on the NYS RSVP Program.

 

Fourth Degree.  We are fast approaching April 18, 2026, the day of the 4th degree exemplification ceremony in Hamburg.  To help support the cost of presenting the ceremony, dinner and the supplies the candidates receive on that day, the district master will ask the assemblies and councils, if they would like to help out, to donate a basket that would go towards a basket raffle the day of the ceremony.   

     If you are planning on attending the WNY chapter meeting on March 14 or April 11, 2026, you can drop it off there.  Also, you can drop off the baskets at the Hamburg council in the lounge area on Monday and Tuesday 1PM - 6PM and Wednesday through Saturday from 1PM - 9PM.  The Hamburg council is located at 36 Pierce Avenue, Hamburg, NY. 

     Thank you for your help on this as in years past. 

Vivat Jesu..........Semper

Paul A. Sawaya, CCRN

District Marshal 

 

Color Corps.  Training sessions are held the 2^nd Thursday of each month at Father Justin Council. All assemblies are encouraged to attend.

 

Pro-Life.  Each council should select a Brother Knight to lead their Pro Life program. Suggested Pro-Life activities at your council:

·      Schedule Rosary and Divine Chaplet readings weekly or monthly outside abortion clinic Coordinate with local parish if possible

·      Identify and implement fund raising efforts for

1)  ultrasound equipment or

2)  lodging expenses for pregnant mothers at Outreach Centers.

·      Support Outreach Centers

o  Mother Teresa Home, 208 Stanislaus St Buffalo 14212.  This program supports pregnancy, and parenting young people (housing and training).

o  St Gianna Pregnancy Outreach Center   780 Ridge Rd Lackawanna

 

ASAP. (Aid and Support After Pregnancy). ASAP is a featured program to support pregnant women, mothers, and their children, both born and unborn, by serving pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes. Through ASAP, for every $500 a council or assembly donates to a qualifying non-profit pregnancy resource center or maternity home (up to $2,000), the Supreme Council will issue a $100 grant to the same qualifying organization. What activities qualify for ASAP? There are a variety of activities you can organize to qualify for ASAP funds – most fall within the categories of financial support and material assistance:

•       Examples of financial support include direct donations, Baby Bottle Drives, proceeds from fundraisers, open houses, etc.

•       • Examples of material assistance include donations of baby items (equipment, food, formula, diapers, wipes), clothes (maternity, baby, infant, and toddler) and other items often listed on a center’s or maternity home’s website.

 

Ultrasound. The Knights of Columbus works together as an organization to purchase ultrasound machines for qualifying pregnancy centers Opportunity to view their unborn children on ultrasound machines at pro-life pregnancy centers. This initiative is funded by Knights of Columbus state and local councils with matching grants from the Supreme Council’s Culture of Life Fund. After the state and/or local council raises 50% of the cost, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council will provide the other 50% to complete funding for purchase.

 

Day of Caring.  The Special Olympics Golf Tournament was held at Rizzo’s at Rothland Golf Course in Akron on Saturday, August 16, 2025.  Joe Mead reported that there were 80 golfers in participation.

 

Veterans.  The Knights of Columbus proudly stand in support of our military veterans.

 

Lottery Calendar.  Chairman John Sowinski is looking for more assistance.  Read about the Lottery calendars 2026 sales incentive here.  The incentive was put in place to reward those councils that have supported the program for many years.  We also hope the incentive will entice those councils that haven't participated to get involved. 

 

Wheelchairs.  This initiative provides aid to those who lack the freedom of mobility in our communities and around the world. Whether councils are presenting wheelchairs to local veterans and neighbors in need or donating funds to benefit those abroad, mobility brings with it independence and dignity. Obtained at discounted prices, these wheelchairs change the lives of their recipients. We are always in need of wheelchairs at $150.00 each.

 

If your council or assembly wants to donate, please contact Larry Phalzer at Madonna Council 716-868-1218 or Lew Herman 716-984-1983

 

Vocations.  Message from Rev. Michael Johnson (September 2025): The Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) through Knights of Columbus Supreme HQ is a program that all Councils and Assemblies should participate in.  I am very happy to report that 28 of our Councils or Assemblies have told me they want to support our Seminarians and Religious Aspirants with RSVP funds and prayer & support.  This year's support from our WNY Chapter Councils and Assemblies has been outstanding and broken the record of total amount contributed by our Councils and Assemblies through the RSVP Program and has allowed us to support our Seminarians and Religious Aspirants with more funds than ever before!  A special shout out to St Vincent de Paul Council #17883 who is the top donor to RSVP. 

 

 

The Vocations Director for the Diocese of Buffalo is Rev. David Baker.

 

RSVP Links:

 Read more about our seminarians

 Contact information

 RSVP refund application form

 

Scholarships.  All applications for Scholarships and Grants are due April 1 at the New York State Council Offices. The applications are available by selecting SCHOLARSHIPS on the NYS website at www.newyorkknights.com. Eighth graders entering Parochial High Schools are eligible for consideration.

 

Basketball Free Throw Competition.  The Regional competition will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Our Lady of Hope Council (Kenmore) starting at noon.  Open to all boys and girls ages 9 through 14, as of January 1, 2026.  Councils are responsible to verify ages using birth certificates.  Birth certificates are only to be viewed for verification.  Councils are not to take possession of any birth certificates.  If questions regarding gender come up, the gender noted on the birth certificates is to be used.  There must be a Brother Knight with full safety protocol certification, including background check, at each event.  There should be a second person with safety protocol certification at the event.  This person would not need the background check.

 

Soccer Challenge Contest.  Be sure and take the online Safe Environment Program now to be covered.

 

Take Note: Anyone running any youth competitions or events need certification by taking the online “Safe Environment Program”/Supreme website. It only takes 45 minutes to complete, and the certification is good for two years.  The training is available here.

 

Coats for Kids.  Joe Knojek reported that $16,000 in coats were given away.  Went very well.  Contact Joe Gnojek <st.vincentdepaulcouncil17883@gmail.com> for more information.

 

Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest.  Essay information is available at kofc.org > What We Do > Programs > Community > Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest

 

Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest.  Poster information is available at kofc.org > What We Do > Programs > Family > Keep Christ in Christmas.

 

Columbiettes.  Information on the Columbiettes can be obtained by contacting Steven Szumigala <steven.szumigala@gmail.com>.

 Columbiettes Auxiliary # 14687 St. Gregory’s:

  Officers 2025-2026

  Who We Are

  

Bishop’s Burse.  June 22, 2026, at Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant, 3785 South Park Ave, Blasdell, NY.

 

C&B Books.  December 2025 Drawing

 

 

 

 

Webmaster: Rick Jachimiak <rjachimiak@gmail.com>